THE KUMARA WATER-RACE AND SLUDGE-CHANNEL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1697, 8 March 1882, Page 2

THE KUMARA WATER-RACE AND SLUDGE-CHANNEL.

PUBLIC MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL. - There was a very large attendance of business people and practical miners at the Town Hall last evening in response to an announcement made by the Mayor andln accordance with a requisition that he would convene a public m« eting “ for the purpose of giving the inhabitants of this town an opportunity of protesting against the unfair demand made by tbe local water-race management for payment of moneys in advance for use of sludge-channel, and for water supplied to claims ; and also to protest against the miners being stopped from working at a moment’s notice, before even they had an opportunity of knowing what the water-race management required of them in fact, the hall was crowded.!] Ilia Worship the Mayor (J. O’Hagan, Esq.) presided. He stated that at the request of the people of Kumara the meeting had been called to express an opinion upon the management of the sludge-channel. It was impossible to separate the business people from the miners in matters pertaining to the water-race and sludge-channel. He saw several of the promoters of the meeting in the ball, who would no doubt be prepared to submit proposals to the meeting. He understood several communications had passed between the parties more immediately concerned, which put matters in a different light to what most of them knew they were then. He would now call upon the promoters of the meeting to come forward. Mr J. S. Pearn first stepped oh to the platform. He said he had a resoIntion just placed in his hands. The Go vernment had been making demands that money for the supply of water to the miners should he paid in advance. He considered the demand was unjustifiable, and would prevent many miners from following out their plans, upon which they had bestowed so many months’ hard labor. The resolution he should propose was— That in the opinion of this meeting the action of the Government in demanding payment for use of the sludge-channel and for water in advance is unjustifiable, and, if insisted on at the present juncture, seeing three fourths of the miners are only opening their claims at Kumara, it will prove disastrous to this district and irreparably injure the colony by driving away the present mining population. He thought the meeting would be unanimous in supporting the resolution he had read. , The Chairman remarked that the resolution was a most important one, and he would like to hear it well dis cussed. Mr R. J. Seddon, M.H.R., said that, before proceeding to discuss the resol u-

tion, he should announce that a certain number of gentlemen (twenty-three) had that morning signed an agreement between themselves and the local manager of works. It would only be right to ask those gentlemen that that agreement be read.—[Hear, hear.] Mr T. Dennett (one of the miners who had signed the agreement referred to) said Mr Martin, the District Engineer, had desired to know on what conditions they were prepared to use the sludge-channel, and a deputation of thirty miners had attended at Mr Gow, the manager’s, office that morning, and, after a long consultation, had entered into an agreement which he would read, as follows: Terms and Conditions on which the Kxjmara Sludge-channel may be used by Persons other than the Holder of such Sludge-channel. 1. The rate to be paid by miners for the privilege of using the sludge-channel shall be ten shillings per week, payable in advance, for each miner, whether owner or wages-man working in or about each claim from which water and tailings are run into such sludge-channel. If it should be ne* cessary at any time to stop the working of the channel, any sum paid in advance by miners for using the channel shall be made up to them either by further use of the channel when again available, or in cash by way of refund, and there shall be no other liability on the part of the holder of the channel in fedpdet of stoppage. 2. No person shall run Water or tailings into the sludge-channel or be employed in or about any claim from which water or tailings are run without the written permit of the manager, stating the name of person so authorised to use it, and certifying that the fees up to a certain date have been paid. 3. Before any person shall cut into or connect with the channel he shall apply to the Warden in the manner provided by registration under Mines Act, 1877, for granting of tail-races; and shall give notice to the manager of his application, Stating where the proposed tail-race will connect with the channel, its intended dimensions and fall. No certificate for any tail-race shall be granted by the Warden unless it shall he certified to him by the manager that such tail-race may be safely allowed to be connected with the channel. 4. The owner or occupier of any tailrace discharging water or tailings into the sludge-channel shall at any time cease to discharge any water or tailings when required to do so by the manager either verbally or in writing ; and the manager shall at all times have full access to any such tail-race or any claim connected therewith. 5. Any owner or occupier of any tailrace emptying into the sludge-channel who shall by the construction of his tail-race or in the use of his privilege cause any damage to the sludge-channel, shall, on demand, pay to the manager the full cost of repairing such damage. In case such owner or occupier shall be dissatisfied with the manager’s assessment of damage, he may appeal to the Warden, Who shall thereupon confirm or vary such assessment and the decision of the Warden shall be final. 6. Any person purchasing a privilege and failing to comply with these terms and conditions shall, in addition to any other expense which he may have to refund, pay the sum of ten pounds as liquidated damages for the inconvenience caused to the holder of the sludge-channel by such non-compliance. 7. Each person purchasing a privilege shall subscribe to these terms and conditions in a properly legal and binding manner before exercising such privilege. 8. The word manager, when used herein, shall mean the person or officer appointed by the Minister of Mines, and for the time being in charge of the said channel We hereby agree to bind ourselves to abide by the above rules on which the sludge-channel is to be used till such time as our application is heard and granted, and endorsed on certificate by Warden. [Signed by twenty-three miners.] Mr Dennett went on to explain— We objected to the first clause—payment in advance; hut when the manager conceded to allow the use of the channel for the first month free, and water for two months free, we assented. Mr G. Mansfield ; Are yon willing to comply with those regulations after two months are up 1 Mr Dennett : No. Mr Seddon pointed out that according to the terms of the agreement just read, which Harris and party, Borlase and party, Lewis and party, and Moran and party Imd signed, they had pledged themselves to pay, in advance, for the use of the sludge-channel ; but there was not a word about the two months’ water to be given, or the free use of the sludge-channel for the first month. Why not have these also in black and white?—[Applause.] In the opinion of the majority of the miners the agreement would go for naught, and we’ll fiijlit the battle out.—[Applause.] The payment-, in advance system was unjustifiable. He could safely say that the bud debts for water to the miners was under £2OO, and that against a sum of £12,000 realised was not much. Any tradesmen would be satisfied with that result. The next question was— Did the Government entail, any extra expense in collecting the money. He thought not ) he knew that in nine

cases out of ten miners who were holding paddocks have run after the manager to pay him the money.— [Applause] He believed most of them would say with kirn, you Can take your fortnight’s Water ‘ we will not prejudice other miners’ privileges.—[Applause.] Government might take their two months* water. Thb conditions made on the goldfields at Dillman’s. nearly tWo years ago—of which the ohly record was in our local paper—were the Conditions the miners agreed to, and not the conditions he held in his hand.[Applause.] ft takes four months to open out a claim. The present agreement means a closing-in all roiind-. Strangers will then Come and take youi 1 place.—[Murmurs.] At Wairaea they had the water at a cheaper rate, and paid for it when they had used it.— [Applause.] He felt quite sure if the Minister of Mines were here at the present time and the whole matter Wag explained to him, it would be put right to the satisfaction of the miners. [Mr Harris, whose party was one of tllo.-e who had signed the agreement, stated that they had not had the water a month, nor yet a fortnight.] Mr Seddon continued—Mr Harris is quibbling as to a few hours. [The speaker then referred to several telegrams he had lately received in course of correspondence between the depai tment and the local manager j and read a telegram he had received from the Undersecretary of Mines that day, adding—] This comes after the miners have made the agreement. The least we can do is to ask the Minister of Mines not to sanction the present agreement. He had made it his business to ask Mr Holmes, the owner of a private waterrace, if he had not been asked by the local manager to charge for water in advance j who replied that he had ; but that he said no, he should not do so.— [Loud applause.] There was another method to remedy this defect I to adopt the course pursued at Mount Ida, by handing over the management to a local board. We are too far away from Wellington. The manager here had little or no power, having to refer everything to the Resident Engineer at Grey mouth, thence to Mr O’Connor at Dunedin, and from there to Wellington. Let us (he said) have a Trust—one member from the County Council, one from the Borough Council, and the rest from amongst Dillmau’s and Latrikin’s miners. If we had a Local Board here, it would he far better for the people. Let the Government place on the Esth mates next session ,£IO,OOO or £12,000. Local control would he. better for the goldfield ai.d for the country. If yoll submit to the thin edge of the wedge, as happened at Ross—and I wouldn’t wonder if this is not a Rossi te’s idea—[Laughter and applause]—you will regret it. I trust you will carry the resolution unanimously.— [Renewed Applause.] Mr Harris stated that in the morning, at half-past eight o’clock, they were told that the Distdct Engineer wanted to see them. They came down, and twenty-three of them signed an agreement. They wanted to get to work. They were starved into it, after waiting eighteen mouths. There were many of them with wives, and some with seven or eight children. They had been delayed months by a paltry dam which a few navvies would have put together without saying anything about it,— [Laughter and applause.] If a local body could be formed for the control of these works it would be one of the best things that ever happened. There was plenty of rain, plenty of fine country with fair quantity of gold in it,’ an extensive water-shed, and a splendid fall for tailings. Not one of the twentythree men meant to do any harm to anyone else; they only want to go to work.—[Applause.] The Chairaman then read the resolution again, which, on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. Mr W. Barnett had thought about the matter for some time. Things had been managed so unsatisfactorily that he thought the best thing was to get the management in their own hands. If they had a Trust Board ou the spot, they would be able to go on without any stoppages. He was afraid they were not going to get another dam. The resolution he would propose was— Hurt in the opinion of this meeting, and with a view to the better management and so as to have local and better control, that the Government be requested to place a sufficient sum ou the Estimates for the completion of the works and construction of works for increased supply of water. Also, that the race be then handed over over to a Trust, similar to that of Mount Ida, and that special legislation to carry out this view be passed next session. He considered this was the best way to get out of the difficulty. Let the people who use it have the management of it.—[Applause.] Mr G. Watson seconded the resolution.

Mr Barnett wished it to he understood that he had no fault to find with the local manager; he had no power. [Applause.] The 'resolution was then put to tkc meeting and earned Unanimously. Mr A; C. OAitPßElih said the resolution he had to propose was as follows: That his Worship tdegfaph to the Mi* ttistßf <)f Mines And ask hint to sUy thd introduction of payment in advance for use of sludge-cbailnel and for Water from the Government race uhtil the miners hive had an opportunity of putting their case fairly before him by petition and otherwises The resolution would well answer the position of matters. The remarks made hy Mr Harris would confirm the purport of the resolution. He excused the twenty-three unfortunate—[laughter]— gentlemen who hud signed the requisition. There wefe always tWo parties necessary to an agreement, sO that the other miners should haVe been consulted-. It was absurd for the Govel-nhient to ask for payment of water in advance-. Storekeepei-s do nbt ask for payment beforehand.—[Applause.] Mr F. TttORN said he was one of " the “ Unfortunate twenty-three " —he would rather say fortunate. They were told to see the Resident Engineer that morn* ing. They had taken two or three hours in the Consideration of their agreement. Mr W. MorUis seconded Mr damp* bell s resolution. It gave him much pleasure in seeing the business people in earnest. He believed in keeping together' but he hated this style of doing btlsi* ness—it was like branding every man a rogue. It was all very well to say the local management was not to blame for this j he felt sure the local management was to blame. It might be said that he was not married, and did not care for the consequences. It might be better if he was married. He thought married men were as well off as he was] they were just as well. He would like to see a pledge exacted from every man not to take the water until these restrictions were rescinded.—[Hear, hear* and applause.] The lesolution Was then put and carried unanimously. Mr R. J. Seddon then moved the following resolution— That his Worship the Mayor communicate with the District Engineer, and ask him to recommend the Minister of Mines to stay the order for demanding payment in advance for use of sludge-channel and for water* so as to give the miner an opportunity of making Government an offer fair to all concerned; Mr E. BhAffE said he was happV tb second the last resolution, because that and the previous oUe Weie very sensible onesi He considered the twenty* three tnbil had acted fairly to them* selves. It was no use finding fault with the management; they had not the power to alter it. The best course was to appoint a Committee and put it to the Government. He believed if these two last resolutions were passed} that was all that was necessary j he thought they would answer all the purpose. He would like to see a sketch-plan drawn out by a Committee and submitted to the Government. : He did not intend speaking to-night j he might be going aWay. But they all knew that he had an interest in see* ing the work going on. The resolution he had the pleasure of seconding was more to the point. ihe resolution was then put and carried unanimously. A. vote of thanks to the Chairman, canied by acclamation, terminated the proceedings.